Life Light

by R. J. Ross

  “Oh, did you,” he drawls.

  “No, that’s not the problem. She might have freaked out some norms and all, but nobody was hurt. The problem is that she says she’s got a new roommate. The roommate broke her phone and everything, but she still seemed happy about it. I just didn’t know Skye HAD a roommate. Why would she need one?”

  “A new roommate?” he repeats blankly.

  “That’s what she said.”

  “Well, we got her permission to use that secret base as her new place,” he says. I can literally hear the frown in his voice. “She seemed quite happy about it, too, so I don’t see her moving in with someone else... I’ll see what I can find out.”

  “Thanks,” Emily says.

  “And how’s your vacation going?”

  “We’re flying in a spaceship,” she says cheerfully. “It’s pretty cool!”

  “A spaceship,” he repeats.

  “Grandpa Superior transformed his car into one. He’s trolling the norms.”

  “Well be careful about that--Isotonic tends to be paranoid about his upper areas,” Century says. “He’s a bit overprotective of his norms, honestly.”

  “Why is he called Isotonic, anyway?” I ask. “Isn’t it a cellular term?”

  “You know how some of us are,” Century says, “We pick names because they sound interesting.”

  “A most admirable lie, Century,” Superior says, making Century laugh. “Isotonic has the ability to become the same as whatever he comes in contact with. There’s no osmosis because he is what he’s surrounded by. But this should be outside of his territory since we’re no longer in America.”

  “It would be, if he didn't have a nice little contract with Canada and the U.N.” Century says. “I can’t say I blame him, I have a similar arrangement with Mexico--they’re extremely fond of Voltdrain.”

  “That’s probably going against Hall rules, you realize,” Taurus says.

  “I haven’t heard complaints so far,” Century says. “It’s actually based on the population of an area--certain places don’t have enough to warrant a Hall of their own. Other places can’t afford the upkeep of an entire set of heroes.”

  “So only Central is stuck with mid-America?” Emily asks.

  “Sweetie, you might not have noticed--Central has the smallest number of heroes in all of the Halls. They also have the least amount of paperwork to do to send those heroes anywhere on earth. Because the majority of those heroes are upper A to S class, no one really complains when they get sent over. I believe, honestly, the only non-flying hero they have would be you, right, Taurus?”

  “True--and I was only brought in because Nico wanted me for the school,” Taurus says, “although I was originally Central, I was sent to West for the majority of my work.”

  “That means Central heroes have their own mode of transportation,” Century finishes. “While Mastermental seems to keep it modest, it’s all a ruse. The rest of us are smart enough to spread out where we can. Speaking of which, word has it you’ve got a water manipulator in the school. I want her.”

  “Malina?” Emily asks. “But--“

  “Put in a good word for me, would you, Sweetie?” he asks with a tiny hint of wickedness in his voice. “Before Marigold and Negatia find out about her.”

  “Negatia?” I repeat.

  “She’s the leader of West,” Taurus says. “She can amplify and negate abilities.”

  “She has no actual physical abilities--but that doesn’t matter because she’s a tactical genius and has a very good team,” Century says. “She’s going to want the water girl.”

  “Of course she is,” Superior says.

  “Malina wants to be a child welfare worker,” Emily says. “She’s not even sure she wants to be a hero.”

  “She can be both--we let our supers take side jobs,” Century says.

  “Fine, I’ll mention it,” Emily says, “but I won’t swear to anything AND you have to look into Skye’s roommate, got it? Also, you should know that Malina is a little person--if you DARE make a comment about--“

  “Now wait just a moment, here,” Century says. “A hero is a hero--it doesn’t matter how tall they are, or what color they are, or even what language they speak. Honestly, she’ll probably be a crowd favorite the moment she steps onto the screen. How powerful is she?”

  “Malina’s actually one of the most powerful of the zoo kids,” I say. “I’m one of them, remember? Malina can cut through anything if she has enough water. Of us all, she was the one that almost escaped the most often. Lance was second. Vinny was third.” I was last. I couldn’t do anything, back then. I still have nightmares about that time, although they’ve spread out recently.

  “And this is Aubrey, right?” Century asks.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Can you put in a good word for me, as well?” he asks. “I’ll be sure to take good care of her down here.”

  “I’ll talk to her, but there's a chance she'll be going on tour with Justin. He asked her a while back.”

  “With Justin? He’s a West Branch boy, isn’t he...” he lets out a little sigh. “It figures.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Justin was the orphan that Mastermental got from the West Branch,” Taurus says. “Sure he was touring the world, but his family line comes from that branch. His father was Sonic Scream. He... didn’t make it,” he says, a grim look on his face.

  “So you knew about Justin’s past and never mentioned it?” I ask.

  “It wasn’t my story to tell,” Taurus says. “It’s still not--which is why I’m going to ask you not to tell the others.”

  “Negatia will want him back after his training,” Century says. “It’s in our contract with your school--whoever we hand over for training is going to come back to us, save for you, Emily.”

  “Well as fascinating as all this is, we’re home,” Superior says as the spaceship pulls to a hover. I unstrap from the bench and head to the window to look at the massive ice mountain in front of us. It gleams in the sunlight, sparkling beautifully. At first it looks like a regular mountain, but the closer you look the more details you see. There are windows. There’s a massive ice door at the base, as well, and a large gaping hole is opening below us. We start down, landing in the hole.

  “It is a lovely little place,” Tatia assures us happily. “I’ve been redecorating!”

  “Little?” Liz repeats. “It’s a mountain.”

  “Yes, but it is a little mountain,” Tatia says, getting up and heading for the luggage.

  “I can get that, Tatiana,” Taurus says, getting to his feet and heading to her.

  “Are you saying I cannot lift a little tiny bit like this?” Tatia asks. Taurus goes red and starts stumbling over his words. I can’t exactly blame him, but I CAN laugh at him. Especially when Tatia starts laughing, patting him on the back. “You are a good son,” she tells him happily. “Please, feel free to carry whatever you wish! I will not tease you more.”

  “Thank you,” Taurus says, only to have Superior reach around him and grab half of the pile without a word. He quickly grabs the rest and turns to look at us. “Shall we, ladies?” he asks.

  We head to him, not even trying to get our things from the ones carrying them. Instead I move to Taurus’s side, grinning up at him. “She got you good,” I tease him.

  “Well you can’t exactly tell THE Tatiana she can’t carry something,” he admits a bit sheepishly. “I looked up all the old reels,” he says silently as Tatia and Superior head down the ramp and into the mountain, “she’s amazing. Did you know that according to super history, she beat Superior in a fist fight half the time?”

  “That is when he does not use his other abilities,” Tatia calls over her shoulder, showing she’s listening.

  “I love a strong woman,” Superior says.

  “Yeah, me too,” Taurus says. I glance over my shoulder just in time to see a blush cross Liz’s cheeks. She’s walking next to Emily, with her arm slung over my siste
r’s shoulder. She doesn’t say a word about that statement. Instead she looks almost too interested as we step into a hallway of ice. There are stairs ahead of us, leading up into the mountain. We follow Superior and Tatiana up the stairs and into a large room with ice ceilings and plush rugs covering the floor. It’s actually a lot warmer than I expected it to be, and there’s a fire pit in the middle of the room. Superior is starting a fire.

  “There are rooms for the girls this way,” Tatia says, motioning for me, Liz and Emily to follow her. “Clifford, if you will show Taurus to his room?”

  “Of course,” Superior says as the fire bursts into existence. He turns. “It’s this way,” he says, heading down a hall the exact opposite direction of ours.

  “So we have a room for each of you,” Tatia says. “I hope you like them. I will admit to doing a bit of flying to get all of the pieces, but do not tell my son.”

  She opens a wooden door, leading us into the first room. “This is your room, Emily! I thought a large bed would be best, in case you wish to bring out your doppelganger,” she says. In the middle of the room is a king size canopy bed with brightly colored curtains. The sheets and blankets are also brightly colored and covered with a pile of pillows. The floor is covered with fuzzy rugs, and a rocking chair big enough for two sits in the corner.

  “There is a restroom through that opening,” Tatia adds, pointing out an ice opening in the back right corner.

  “This is amazing,” Emily says. There’s a stunned expression on her face. “I love it!” she decides, turning and hugging Tatia tightly. “Thank you!”

  “I am glad,” Tatia says, smiling down at her gently. “I have decided that the mountain is large enough to make each of our grandchildren their own room--I have already started carving out Zoe and Sunny’s! I will show you those sometime. Now, let us go to Aubrey’s room,” she says, heading out the door as we trail along. I would have been fine sharing a room with Emily, but it would seem rude to say that, right?

  “Your grandfather helped with this one,” Tatia says, much to my shock. “Not that he did not want to help with Emily’s, but everything he picked... it was too mild,” she says. “I tell him, ‘Our Emily, she is a child of COLOR!’ but my Clifford, he says, ‘It looks like a rainbow threw up,’” she imitates him. Emily bursts out laughing.

  “It does, but I LOVE IT!” she proclaims happily.

  The door to my bedroom is opened, revealing a large room about the same size as Emily’s. The room is open and airy. In the middle of the room is a beautiful metal fire pit with a rocking chair next to it--one about the same size as Emily’s. “He did the chairs, though,” Tatia says. On my chair is a stuffed toy that looks like a pink rose and a cream knit throw blanket over the back.

  The bed is a queen size, with a wooden canopy--the four posts look like trees, with branches going out and up over the bed. On the bed are more stuffed roses, as well as a beautiful crocheted cream colored throw folded at the bottom of a pastel quilt. In front of it is a wooden chest with a pillow on top, so it can be sat on. On the walls are paintings and posters from all around the world--and one large poster of Cold Steel in full uniform, framed.

  “I love it,” I say, awed.

  “We were worried you would get colder than the others,” Tatia says, “so we thought a fire pit would be a nice touch. Do not worry about it melting the ice, it will not be a large enough flame. There is wood over here, in this corner,” she tells me, leading me to a small nook where a pile of chopped wood sits. “And your restroom is through that opening there,” she adds. “Your grandfather did not seem happy about the Cold Steel poster,” she adds with a little smile. “I enjoyed getting the biggest one I could find for that very reason.”

  “Oh!” Emily stops, blinking in surprise, “Ditto says we’ve got one of Trent!”

  “Your doppelganger is examining your room?” Tatia asks.

  “Well I wanted to see Aubrey’s, but I didn’t see everything in mine,” Emily explains.

  “You’ve both put a lot of thought into this,” I say as I head to the bed, staring up at the entwined tree branches. They’re carved, I think--or, considering his ability--“Did Su--did Grandpa make this?” I ask her, looking over at them.

  “He has found working with his hands a wonderful pastime,” Tatia says. “It is beautiful, is it not?”

  “Yeah,” I say.

  “I’d be fine staying with one of the girls,” Liz says as she drops down in my rocking chair. “You don’t have to--“

  “Liz,” Tatia says sharply.

  “I’m just saying--“

  “We have made you a very nice place of your own,” Tatia says, “and it is close enough to the girls that there should be nothing to worry about,” she adds in a softer tone. “But we are very secure here, I would not worry.”

  “You didn’t have to make me a room, is all I’m saying,” Liz mutters as she reluctantly follows Tatia out of my room.

  “We did not,” Tatia says as she heads up a set of stairs. She steps into a huge apartment of ice, spreading out her arms, "we have made you an apartment, instead,” she finishes. “The stairs lead to the girl’s hall, as well, so it is more of a... small house. In our line of business it is important to have a place to go to, to--lie down, as they say?”

  “Lie low,” Liz says.

  “Lie low, lie down, there is very little difference,” Tatia says, blowing it off. “This will give you a place to go to if you have another of the ‘home-arrest’ problems.”

  “You heard about that, huh?” Liz says, looking sheepish.

  “Of course we did! It is not something you should try to keep secret from your parents,” Tatia lectures. “It was very impressive.”

  We all stare at her, shocked.

  “Impressive?” Liz finally repeats when no one can think of anything else to say.

  “Oh, yes, very impressive!” Tatia says. “I was so very proud--your ability is so very amazing!”

  “Um... thank you,” Liz says, a little smile sneaking onto her face. “I try not to use it, though, because it's way too exaggerated,” she admits. “I mean, you don’t really need to do something that dramatic when a bit of spark and crackle gets the crowd going just fine, right?”

  “A very good way of thinking,” Tatia says. “Now look around--your room is through that opening there. We can put a door on it, if you desire. The kitchen is here. It is only a half kitchen, because your father insists that you will not eat with us if we give you a full sized one,” she says bluntly. “He has been led to believe that you do not like him very much.”

  “Well... it’s more like I hardly saw him when growing up--first he was either always off saving the world, and then he was... well, dead,” Liz says. “Nico hates him for it, although I think he’s calmed down since finding out he was a dad himself. Me, well, I don’t dislike him, exactly. I just... don’t know him.”

  “That is why it is perfect to make you your own apartment!” Tatia says, walking over to Liz and placing her hands on her shoulders. She looks Liz straight in the eyes, “you are always welcome here. You will have your privacy, when you need it, but we are always here to talk with.”

  “Nico said you hated my mom,” Liz says.

  The look on Tatia’s face is priceless. “Well--that was--your mother--“

  “Nico kicked her out when I was eight,” Liz says, shrugging. “It’s not going to bother me if you hated her, all I remember of her was constantly being forced to do things I couldn’t do at the time. So I don’t care.”

  “Oh Liz,” Tatia says, her voice soft as she drags Liz into a tight hug. “Do not worry; I will be happy to call you daughter. We will have family holidays and wonderful adventures together! You, me, and the girls--let us enjoy this week!”

  “Let’s go see the polar bears!” Emily says.

  “I would actually prefer getting some sleep,” I admit. “I slept a little on the plane, but it wasn’t very good. Can I opt out on the polar bears for the moment?
”

  “We will go see the polar bears tomorrow,” Tatia says. “I will leave you all to get comfortable in your new place. Dinner will be in a few hours! I will call you!”

  “Thank you, Grandma Tatia,” I say as she hauls all of us into one last hug before heading off. I look at the others and point to the stairs. “I’m going to go check out my room, okay? I also have an email to write.”

  “Have fun!” Liz says, already raiding the kitchen. They didn’t bother with a fridge, I notice, they simply carved one out of the wall and put a door on it. Liz doesn’t seem to mind at all.

  “I’m going to my room, too!” Emily says, following me down the stairs. “I think Superior built my bed, too,” she adds as we reach our hall. “I want to see what else there is.”

  “Have fun,” I say as I head into my room and dig through my things. I pull out my laptop, sitting down on my massive rocking chair with it in my lap. Nico built it--that means it runs off of my Super energy. I never have to worry about the battery dying. I tap on the keyboard and bring up my email. The forwarded email pops up and I read it one more time before I start to type.

  I erase at least three times, almost giving up. It’s hard, writing to someone I don’t know. There’s always the chance she’ll think I’m pranking her or something. What if she does? Or what if she’s the one pranking me?

  I stare at my letter, high-lighting it after a moment and hitting the delete key. After a deep breath in, letting it out slowly, I start typing one more time. Even if this is a prank, I can’t risk passing up the opportunity of finding out.

  Hello, my name is Aubrey. I go to Cape High. I’m the one you saw on the video. Can I please ask why you were so interested in talking to me?

  I hit send, my hand shaking slightly as the email picture grows small and disappears. Your letter has been sent. Those words seem so final, I think as I stare at them.

  I find myself pushing F5 a few times after returning to the inbox. That’s stupid, I know, there’s no way she’s just sitting by her computer or her phone waiting for an email from me, right? I should call up the zoo kids and tell them that I’m here safe and sound--